The Mayor’s Chaplain said Prayers.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 23 September 2015 (Minute Nos. 230 - 239) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 23 September 2015 (Minute Nos. 230 – 239) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves or their spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner.  They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

The Chairman will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items on this agenda, under the following headings:

(a)          Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and not take part in the discussion or vote.  This applies even if there is provision for public speaking.

(b)          Disclosable Non Pecuniary (DNPI) under the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DNPI interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

Advice to Members:  If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Director of Corporate Services as Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

No interests were declared.

The Mayor made a number of announcements.

Remembrance Sunday – the Mayor thanked Members for agreeing to represent the Mayor by attending a service and laying a wreath on Remembrance Day, and advised that they would be contacted when the wreaths were ready for collection.

Macmillan Coffee Morning – the Mayor referred to the coffee morning announced at the last Council meeting.  £251 had been raised, of which £31.23 had been contributed by Members following the last Council meeting.  She congratulated Carole Pasterfield, Carol Sargeant and their helpers for organising the event.

Christmas Day Swim – the Mayor advised that Councillor Katy Coleman would be doing a sponsored swim on Christmas Day, in aid of Cancer Research.

Mayor’s Charity – the Mayor advised that she would be holding a Charity Event called ‘Turkish Delight’ in Faversham.

The Mayor also reminded Members to respond to the email regarding Pete Raine’s leaving do.

To consider any questions submitted by the public.  (The deadline for questions is 4.30 pm the Friday before the meeting – please contact Democratic Services by e-mailing democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417330).

There were no questions from Members of the public.

To consider any questions submitted by Members.  (The deadline for questions is 4.30 pm the Wednesday before the meeting – please contact Democratic Services by e-mailing democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417330).

Responses to Questions uploaded 16.10.15.

The Mayor advised that there were five questions, the answers to which had been given to Members and a copy is attached at Appendix I to the Minutes.  The Mayor reminded Members that there was a three minute time limit for supplementary questions and their answers, and invited Members to ask a supplementary question.

Supplementary Question 1

Councillor Monique Bonney asked the Cabinet Member what the timeframe was for the implementation of the paperless system?

The Cabinet Member for Planning undertook to provide a written response.  He also advised that the planning service was now providing a faster service than prior to the shared service arrangements, with validation taking place in three days rather than five days previously.

Supplementary Question 2

Councillor Monique Bonney asked what the timeframe was to stabilise the planning team with permanent staff (rather than temporary staff)?

The Cabinet Member for Planning advised that there was a churn of staff in the department, some for natural reasons, and advised of the national shortage of trained planners. It was therefore not possible to give a timeframe at this point in time.

Supplementary Question 3

Councillor James Hunt thanked the Cabinet Member for the response and asked why the issue had not been addressed until now?

The Cabinet Member for Planning advised that Swale had been using Kent County Council’s (KCC’s) parking standards.  New regulations now allowed district authorities to agree their own standards, and this would be progressed when resources became available.  Some preliminary work was being undertaken with KCC and this would come forward to the Local Development Framework Panel.

There were no supplementary questions to questions 4 and 5.

Members may ask questions on the Leader’s Statement.  (To follow).

Statement added 19 October 2015.

The Leader presented his Statement to Members, which included the following topics: Syrian Refugee update; Local Enterprise Partnership; Devolution/Combined Authorities; and changes to the financing of local government.

The Mayor invited Members to ask questions on each section.

Syrian Refugee Update

The Leader advised that the situation was changing minute-by-minute, and whilst various announcements had been made, the detail regarding funding was not yet known.  The Council would play its part but could not commit until the funding situation was clarified.

The Leader of the UKIP Group asked for a response to his questions at the last Council meeting regarding Yazadi and Christian refugees, to which the Leader advised he had no specific update.

The Deputy Leader of the Labour Group suggested it would be useful for all Members to see the report being considered by KCC’s Council meeting the following day, and asked the Leader to give updates via email rather than wait for the next Council meeting.  The Leader asked Democratic Services to circulate the KCC report to all Members. 

The Leader of the Independent Group asked for an update on the question he asked at the last Council meeting regarding Christian refugees not in camps.  He also questioned how it had been possible for three Councils in Kent to give an indicative commitment at this time?

The Leader advised that it was not for him to comment on other authorities’ decisions, as each council was in a different position, for example some had their own retained Council housing stock whilst Swale did not.

Local Enterprise Partnership

The Leader of the Independent Group advised that he was shocked at the level of attendance by District Leaders at the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership Board (KMEP) and was pleased that the Leader was present.  He asked whether there was any movement on the funding of skills training?

The Leader advised that skills training was a major objective of KMEP going forward, and he shared the Member’s disappointment at the level of attendance.

Devolution/Combined Authorities

The Leader of the UKIP Group agreed that this had not been a hot topic at election time, and suggested that perhaps there were more suitable topics for future Leader’s Statements.

The Leader responded by saying that, whilst it may not be a topic of interest in the short term, residents would become interested if, for example, council meetings were held in a different area or funding changed. It was therefore important to be involved in debates on this subject rather than play ‘catch up’.

Changes to the financing of local government

The Leader of the UKIP Group suggested that the central government grant should be redistributed to parish and town councils, as was the case in other Kent authorities.

The Leader noted this and advised that there would be an update on this in due course.

The Leader of the Independent Group welcomed the change to business rates to being determined at a local level, which would be a real benefit to developing commercial  ...  view the full minutes text for item 294.

The Chairman of the Audit Committee introduced the report which had been considered by the Audit Committee, and proposed the recommendations.  This was seconded by the Vice-Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Treasury Management Stewardship report for 2014/15 be approved.

(2)  That the prudential and treasury management indicators within the report be approved.

The Council is asked to note the recommendations on the Annual Treasury Management Report 2014/15 as set out in Minute No. 227.  The Report will be considered by the Council at Agenda Item 9.

The Mayor advised that the recommendation at Minute No. 227 was for noting, as the item related to the Annual Treasury Management Report that had just been considered by the Council.

Resolved:

That the recommendations in Minute No. 227 be noted.